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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wednesday - October 20, 2004

GREENVILLE - United States Attorney Frank D. Whitney announced that LAKENDRICK FOBBS was sentenced in federal court in Greenville, N. C., on Monday, October 18, 2004, for conspiracy, armed bank robbery, and firearms violations. U. S. District Judge Malcolm J. Howard imposed a sentence of 204 months imprisonment and a supervised release term of five years. Also, FOBBS was ordered to pay (jointly with any co-defendants) restitution in the amount of $9,440.00 to the credit union he robbed.

FOBBS, 28, of Rocky Mount, N. C., was indicted by a federal grand jury in Wilmington on March 25, 2004. He was convicted on May 12, 2004, following a three-day jury trial in Greenville. The jury found FOBBS guilty of conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery; armed bank robbery; and use of firearms during and in relation to a crime of violence--armed bank robbery.

According to the indictment and evidence presented during the trial, FOBBS and three other individuals robbed the Telco Credit Union located at 1720 Barlow Road, Tarboro, N. C., on May 30, 2003. Evidence showed that the robbers brandished handguns and a shotgun and took $9,440.00 in U. S. currency. Evidence further showed that during the robbery, one of the bank's tellers was struck with a gun on the back of her head by one of the robbers and later required medical attention.

Of the remaining three defendants--one pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing, and the other two are awaiting trial.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Tarboro Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U. S. Attorney Jennifer May-Parker prosecuted the case for the United States.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney's web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.